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Xtra Time Web Desk: The Pakistan Cricket Board made a decisive move on 28th April, Sunday, revealing the selection of World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten to lead Pakistan's ODIs and T20Is, renowned for his successful coaching stints with India and South Africa, notably guided the Indian team to victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup under the leadership of MS Dhoni at the iconic Wankhedestadium. While former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie will assume the role for Test cricket. Additionally, former Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood was named as the team's assistant coach across all formats.

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Explaining his decision to take on the coaching role for Pakistan, Kirsten expressed his primary goal of unifying the Pakistan white-ball team. Currently serving as the mentor for IPL side Gujarat Titans, Kirsten is set to begin his tenure with Pakistan's tour of England commencing on May 22, followed by preparations for the T20 World Cup in June.

"It's a tremendous honour to be entrusted with the responsibility of coaching the Pakistan men's national team in white-ball cricket and to rejoin the international cricket arena after some time. I eagerly anticipate this opportunity and aim to contribute positively to the Pakistan men's national team in limited-overs cricket. Kirsten's strategy focuses on prioritizing continuity in team selections, aiming to create a stable and consistent environment that allows players to perform at their best. He believes that maintaining a cohesive unit and building strong team dynamics are essential for the team's success in international competitions.

"One of the beautiful aspects of cricket is its universality. Across cultures, there's a shared understanding when we discuss the game. My goal is to unite the Pakistan men's white-ball team, harnessing their considerable talents towards a common objective, and achieving success together on the field," he said.

Pakistan's quest for a permanent head coach began after their disappointing performance in the 50-over World Cup last year, where they failed to advance to the knockout stages. Following the tournament, Pakistan overhauled their coaching staff, parting ways with head coach Grant Bradburn, team director Mickey Arthur, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and batting coach Andrew Puttick.

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Amidst leadership changes, including Babar Azam's removal from captaincy and the subsequent appointment of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood as white-ball and Test captains respectively, Pakistan's coaching roles saw further transitions. Despite approaching notable figures like Matthew Hayden and Shane Watson, the PCB eventually settled on Kirsten, backed by his proven success on the international stage, and Gillespie, known for his coaching acumen with English county side Sussex.